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Measuring Need Satisfaction and Frustration in Educational and Work Contexts: The Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (NSFS)

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Abstract

The satisfaction and frustration of the psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness and competence predict well-being and ill-being outcomes. However, research within educational and work contexts is stifled by the lack of an exhaustively validated measure. Following extensive preparatory and pilot work, the present three studies (total N = 762) aimed to develop such a measure and validate it against the Basic Need Satisfaction at Work Scale (Deci et al. in Personal Soc Psychol Bull 27(8):930–942, 2001) and an adapted version of the Balanced Measure of Psychological Needs (Sheldon and Hilpert in Motivation Emot 36(4):439–451, 2012). The Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale demonstrated a better factor structure and internal reliability than its predecessors, and good criterion validity. This improvement was due to the exclusion of ambiguous items and items measuring antecedents of need satisfaction and frustration. The results also strengthen current evidence showing that need satisfaction and frustration are distinct but related constructs, and each better predicts well-being and psychological health problems, respectively.

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Notes

  1. The BNSW-S and the BNSL-S were retrieved from the website, http://www.psych.rochester.edu/SDT/questionnaires.php, which is maintained by E. Deci and R. Ryan from the University of Rochester. It should be noted that the website is subject to change.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Kennon Sheldon, Nikos Ntoumanis, Fernando A. Ortiz, Rod Bond, and Stephen Joseph in conducting this research.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ylenio Longo

    Present address: Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, YANG Fujia Building, Jubilee Campus, Nottingham, NG8 1BB, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Sussex, East Sussex, UK

    Ylenio Longo & Tom Farsides

  2. Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Alexander Gunz

  3. School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia

    Guy J. Curtis

Authors
  1. Ylenio Longo
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  2. Alexander Gunz
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  3. Guy J. Curtis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ylenio Longo.

Additional information

The portions of this article served as Ylenio Longo master’s dissertation.

Appendix: The Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale

Appendix: The Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale

Instructions: Please, read each of the following statements carefully. For each statement, use the scale below to circle the response that best represents your opinion.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Slightly disagree

Neither disagree nor agree

Slightly agree

Agree

Strongly agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Stem: In my studies…/In my job…

  1. 1.

    I feel I’m given a lot of freedom in deciding how I do things

  2. 2.

    I feel I am prevented from choosing the way I carry out tasks

  3. 3.

    I feel completely free to make my own decisions

  4. 4.

    I feel forced to follow directions regarding what to do

  5. 5.

    I feel under pressure to follow standard procedures

  6. 6.

    I feel free to decide what to do

  7. 7.

    I feel the people I interact with really care about me

  8. 8.

    Sometimes, I feel a bit rejected by others

  9. 9.

    I feel I’m perfectly integrated into a group

  10. 10.

    I feel a bit alone when I’m with other people

  11. 11.

    On occasions, I feel people are a bit cold towards me

  12. 12.

    I feel very close and connected with other people

  13. 13.

    I doubt whether I am able to carry out my tasks properly

  14. 14.

    I feel I am very good at the things I do

  15. 15.

    Occasionally, I feel incapable of succeeding in my tasks

  16. 16.

    I feel highly effective at what I do

  17. 17.

    I feel I can accomplish even the most difficult tasks

  18. 18.

    I sometimes feel unable to master hard challenges

Autonomy satisfaction: 1, 3, 6.

Autonomy frustration: 2, 4, 5.

Relatedness satisfaction: 7, 9, 12.

Relatedness frustration: 8, 10, 11.

Competence satisfaction: 14, 16, 17.

Competence frustration: 13, 15, 18.

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Longo, Y., Gunz, A., Curtis, G.J. et al. Measuring Need Satisfaction and Frustration in Educational and Work Contexts: The Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (NSFS). J Happiness Stud 17, 295–317 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9595-3

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